I've mostly had access to hash much of my life, of the Cannabis I have consumed I'd say roughly 90% of it was hash.
I love the flavour, the richness, the texture, everything! I usually mix it with tobacco, which takes getting used to but now it's part of the ritual basically.
Generally you need fewer hits of hash to get high, but it depends on the quality of course. There is crap hash and there is great weed, but if you made hash out of a particular kind of weed that would obviously blow the original out of the water potency wise.
However, the process of making hash (with heat) is said to increase CDB content, by converting THC, and aging does that too (kif is usually cured for some time before it gets processed into hash).
Thus most hash I have smoked is more of a couchlock experience, a really heavy body and mind high, cloudy even. The best hash I've had left me incapacitated and floating in and out of a dream state for a couple of hours. Another factor of course is that most "hash plants" in Afghanistan and such places are Cannabis Indica, which is already a heavier stone.
It's my understanding that in the U.S. hash is rare, too expensive, but usually very high potency. In Europe there is a much greater variety of hash, from soap bar to commercial grade Maroccan to premium Moroccan and Middle Eastern hashish. Nepal also makes so nice stuff, but it is sometimes of questionably quality once it makes it's way through a dozen middle-men.
Anyway, I love hash
--- G.